smith



. I a SMITH 1,682,636

MECHANICAL BASEBALL GAME- Filed Aug. 20. 1927 2- Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

601. main: 5 MI'P ATTORNEY.

Aug. 28, 1928. 682,636 G. SMITH MECHANICAL BASEBALL GAME Filed Aug. 20. 1927 2 sheets-sheet 2 'I/IIIIIIIII rum,"

Q INVENTOR.

Gawwm SMITH ATTORNEY.

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Patented Aug. 28, 1928.

' UNITEDYSTATES PATENT OFFICE. I

GOLDWIN SMITH, or TAMPA, FLORIDA. 1

i MECHANIGAL BASEBALL GAME.

Application filed August 20, 1927. serial'No. 214,317.

The invention relates to improvements in mechanical baseball games of the kind described, in my application for a United States Patent, Serial Number 189,948, filed 5 .May 9, 1927.

The objects of the invention are to provide simple, .efiicient, practical, economical and durable means, whereby the game of base ball may be simulated by players therelo'of while the latter are indoors; to provlde means adapted to hat or strike the ball, during playing ofsaid game, for the purpose of imparting motion of said ball toward a stationary field having pockets to receive lithe ball which effects the final score of said players; to provide means whereby skill of the players in playing said game is acquiredby practice; to provide means where by the most skillful player is adapted to re- 2 ceive-credit for the highest score and, there fore, is the successful participant of the several players of saidgame. v

.Other objects will be ap'parentxfroin the vhereinaftt-zr description.

spondingto 4 -4 in Fig. 1, with parts broken 40 Fig. 5 is the ball; v Fig. 6 is a section takenon a line corresponding to 6'6in Fig. 1, with parts broken away;

Fig. 7 is a plan view showinga modifiedform of the batter;

Fig. 8 is a plan viewgof the track; Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the invention; and. l

, Fig. 10 is a sectiontaken ontaline corre- 'sponding'to10+10;in Fig. 1.

In theprefe'rredconstruction. of the in- The invention consists in thecombination Fig. 1 is a plan view ofthe invention with an enlarged longitudinal sectional View showing the spout in'full lines inclined upwardlyand showing the spout in dotted lines extending downwardly for dropping vention Iprovide the circular table or drum l comprising the top 2 and the bottom 8 secured in spaced apart relation, as by the turn buckles i threaded to the inner ends of the" threaded boltsb and 6, having their outer ends, "respectively, suitably secured in the outer edges ofthe top and bottonnwhereby the top andJbottom are maintained in ad justed stationary position with relation to eachother; T-he. inner ends of the rods 4:

are secured to the center of the bottom 3 and have their outer ends slidably engaging the 7 lower side of the top 2 to eiiect stability of the top 2, whereby the centrally disposed perforations 7 and 8 are maintained in vertical alignment with each other. 7

From the hole 7 the top 2 slopes upwardly and outwardly, whereby a sphere or ball is adapted by the force of gravitation, to be carried from any point on the top toward the hole 7. I

liotatably mounted in the hole 8, ofjthe bottom: 3, is the spindle 9 having fixed to its upper end 10, the mechanical batter 11 which projects, through the hole 7 in the to a 2, with its feet adjacent the inner edges 0 the top surrounding the hole'Z. The batter preferably is made to simulate a'ball I player in the act of batting. a

Fixed to the lower end 12, of the spindle. 9,.is 'the bevel gear 13 meshing with the bevel gear 14 fixed tothe inner-end15 of the shaft 16 rotatably mounted in suitable hearings in the u shapesupports 17 suitably fixed to the support 18 suitablylixedto the inner sides 19 of the semi-spherical container 19" having its round side 20 positioned downwardly. r

Suitably fixed to the outwardly projectin flange 21,extending parallel to. the top 19 of the container, are aflplurality of legs or in the circular track 25, whereby the container, with the parts fixed to'it, may be manually rotated. The track '25 maybe laid upon the ground, or securedto the floor-- ing of the building in which the game is assembed for play.

Fixed to the outer protruding end 26 of the shaft 16 is the manually operative crank 27 for. purposes hereinafter fully explained.

Suitably secured to the spindle 9, within theinternal gear 13, fixed to the bottom. 3 of table, is the external pinion gear 28 supports 22, havingfixed to their lower ends 23, the rollers 2 l which areadapted to roll meshing with the external pinion gear 29 rotatably mounted on the stud 30 having its upper end 31 suitably fixed in the top 32 of the internal gear 13.

The internal gear 13 is fixed to the bottom 3, as by the bolts 33. The spindle 9 is received by the hole 34, centrally disposed in.

the top 32 of the internal gear. The collar 35 is fixed t0 the spindle adjacent the upper side 36 of the bottom 3 of the table 1.

The spindle 9, is maintained against downward movement, and its lower end 12 is maintained against lateral movement, as by the lower end being rotatably mounted in the bearing 37 in the upper end of the vertical staff 38 having itslower end 39 securely bolted to the support 18.

The teeth 40, of the internal gear 13', are '1 continuous mesh wi-th'the teeth 41-01 the pinion gear 29, the teeth of which-are in continuous mesh with the teeth 42, ot the pinion 28, whereby manual rotation oi. the crank 27 simultaneously imparts rotatable movement to the mechanical batter or striking element 11 and the table 1.

The gearing connections, just previously explained, are for the purpose oi rotating the mechanical batter 11 in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the table 1, whereby when the ball, or sphere 1'. is positioned at any point upon the top 2, of the table 1, and the crank 27 is rotated at a-rate, unadapted by the centrifugal force, M

to cause thesphere to move outwardly and 'ofi' of the table, the ball is adapted to roll down the sloping top 2, toward the mechani cal batter 11, and'the bat 43, secured to the hand '44 otthe batter, is caused to strike the ball and thereby drive it outwardly of thetablefi L If desirable, a plurality ofbats or striking elements 43 may be attached to the batter clet or field 48 having the pockets 4}), 5O

11. The resilient projections 11 may be fixed to the bats as shown in Fig. 'i to effect greater resiliency when a bat contactsthe balll Surrounding the table 1, and positioned with its inner edge'46 adjacent the outer edge 47 of the table 1, and in horizontal alignment therewith, is the stationary cirand 52 positioned atthe outer edge 46 of the-circlet andseparatedby 90, circumferentiall-y of the field, ,to-represent home plate,

first base, second base, and third base, re-' spectively, of the invention. Thepockets are in a horizontal plane. I Intermediate the pockets 49 and 50, 50 and 51, 51 and 52, 52 and 49, are-the ridges 53,

tween the ridges 53 and 54, 55 and 5G, and.

5(5 and 53 is adapted to be carried, by the force of gravitation, into the one of the pockets which is between the ridges between which the ball is positioned.

The ridges 54, 55, and 56 are spaced equidistant from the'adjacent pockets, but the ridge 53 is positioned in closer proximity to' mines the position of the pins 63 in the arms spect to the outer usted.

The thickness of the spacersdeterwhereby the position or" the circlet with re-' edge oi the table is ad-' The guard comprises the vertical body 64 having the inwardly extending flange 65 inte rally formed with its upper end 66 and extending inwardly thereof. The inner edge of the flange is positioned slightly out wardly oi the outer edge 46 of the circlet. Tiecircletis adapted to be removed from the invention without the necessity of dis turbine; the guard 60 or thetable 1. The

lower edge of theguard i'ssuitably secured to the sir) )ort 18. v i

Q a rjurrounoing the circlet 48, except at the pockets, and having its top 68 fori'ned off L u -v pickets 69 andprotruding above the top 5K 01' the circlet, isthe fence 70hav1ng its lower edge (1 secured, to the circlet, whereby when, due to rapid rotation cit-he table 1', or as the result of a heavy impact of the bat .43 v

with the ball, the latter adapted to be driven outwardly tromfthe table 1, over the circlet 48 and in contact with the fence. An important object when playing the gameis to manipulate the cranltQT so that the ball will be caused finally to enter the pocket 49 which counts twenty points to the "playeris score. The entrance of a ballinto the peck cts 50,51, and 52, respectively, counts fifteen, ten and livepoints to the players score,

The fence 70 preferably. is made of sheet hrubber which is adapted, under certain cir.-

cumstancegto cause the ball to rebound onto the circle 48 and roll into one of the pockets 49, 50, 51 or 52.

When, for any reason, the ball is driven from the table 1 and over the fence 70 it is adapted to contact with one of the pendants 1 1 4A1 L7. I)

ediy connecteewnh tneilange on, and erted downwardly, between the outer div 46 of the circlet and the body 64 ot' the guard 60,11pon the downwardly and inwardly incl ned board73 from Where the ball is adapted to roll lnto the trough 74.

The player gains no points to increase his score when a ballis driven over the fence The trough 74 is inclined. downwardly to-,

. ward the bin 7 5 andcommunicates therewith whereby the ball is carriechby the force of gravitation, from. thetrough into the bin which is suitably secured to theinner side ofthe container 191. The ball may be removedfrom the bin through the opening 76 in'the container.

If desirable, advertisements be attached. to the outer sidesjof the'pendants 74.

' Positioned directly underneath the pock ets 49, 50,51 and 52,vrespectively', are the baffle platecounters 77L; The purpose of the counters isfthrough operative connection with suitable; counter mechanism, to automatically register by contact of the ball with each plate, whereby the number of the plates positioned under. the holes 49, 50, 51 and.

52 will be decreased in the-'orde'i named. Or any suitable counter mechanism may be utilized for the purposes intended.-

For the purpose of enabling the players I to conveniently position a ball upon the top 2, ofthe table 1, the'mechanical ball ejector 78 is connected with the'topof the flange 65. The ejector may consist of spring blade 7 9 having its outer end SO-fixed to the top: of the flange ('35, and having the concave scoop 81 fixed to its innerend 8:2 whereby nor.-

mally, when the scoop contains no ball the spring 79 automatically causes the scoop to move upwardly from thetable 1 into the position shownin Fig. 2. When it. is desirable to place a ball uponthe top of the table, the ball is dropped-into the scoop. The tensional strength of the spring 79 is such that the weight of the ball causes the scoop .to be lowered into the position'represented by the dottedlines in Fig. 5, whereby, the ball is permitted to roll out of the scoop onto the table. V

.l-Eachof the pockets 49,50, 51. and 52, comprise the trap-door 83. having its outer end 84hingedly connected, by thepin 85,

' to the boss 86.? The (inner end 87 of the circlet. r59.

' are.:the plates 91' and 92 fixed. to the guard and extending at rightangles to the fhori-v zontal plane of tlie circlet to guide the ball dooris positioned in the recess 88 in the Adjacent the edges-.89 and .90 'of'the door from the circlet. onto the door. A bali which enters upon the door is permittedtofall The coiled spring 93 normally maintains the door in its-closed. position, but the, weight'of a; ball upon the door is adapted to overcome the tension inthe spring to permitthe: door through the pocket onto jthe board :(o.

to pivot downwardly to permit the ball to fall into thetrough. j

In Fig. 3 I show a modified form of the batter comprisingvthe coil'spring. 94, fixed to the spindle 9, havingthe-bat 43 secured thereto. The head 95 is secured to the spring 94which maybe clothed to represent a ball player.

Suitable figures, as the spectators 95 and an umpire 96, may be fixed to-the fance, or to the outer edge of the circlet, and with their heads protruding above the top thereof. And points may or maynot be given to ,the player who manipulates the crank 27 in such a manner as to cause the'ball to strike. the figures. i

Iti desirable to position. the crankQ'T and the opening 76, in the container 19', in.

juxtaposition for the reason that an important advantage of the inventionis that various'players may seat themselves around the container and after one of the players has completed his turn of manipulation of the crank 27, the container may be rotated in the track 25 to position the crank in close proximity to the player whose turn is the next succeeding one to manipulate the cranln If, desirable, suitable mechanism may be provided for automatically delivering three, or. other quantities, of balls from the bin uponthe insertion of a predetermined coin in the mechanism. The playing of three balls'may represent an inning for one player and, with the usual nine innings comprising a gameof base ball, playing a total of twenty-seveh balls will be required for each player to complete a game.

. However, it is quite apparent thatthe gamemay be played by various and numertion whereby it .isnecessa'ry. for a player to deposit a coinin the apparatus to play the game. Moreover, a suitable lighting systern may be incorporated'in the invention.

After the ball is positioned upon the upper surface of the top 2 of the table. the

skillofthe player in operating the crank 27 to rotate the table 1 at the proper speed,

and in causing the batter 11 to drive the ball'determine toa great extent whether the ball will be forced upon the circlet 48 and into one of the holes 49, 50, 51TH 52, or whether it will be forcedover the fence.

It is nowapparent thatI have invented a highly desirable andinteresting game for thepurposes intended and which may be the m ans for providing enjoyable recreation for players who desire to simulate playing the national game ofbase-ball;

I the features of advantage enumerated as deall) sirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have, in

the present instance, shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof which will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, it, is toebe understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various :particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a ball, of rotatable means,

a-stationary field surrounding said means and having a plurality of pockets therein, manually operative means to rotate said first mentioned 7 means, and movable means adapted to strike and drive said ball from said first mentioned means toward said field, substantially as and for the purposes specified. l

2. In adeviceof the class described, the

' combination with a ball, of rotatable means,

a field surrounding said means-and having pockets therein, manually operative means to rotate said first mentioned means, and means adapted to strike and drivesaid ball from said first mentioned means toward said field, substantially as and for the purposes specified. j V

3. In a device'of the class described, the combination with a ball, a rotatable table, a field surrounding the table and having a plurality of pockets therein, manually operative means to rotate said table, and means adapted to bat said ball toward said field,

substantially asand for the purposes speci-- fier. r

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with'aball,'of a rotatable table, a stationary circlet surrounding the table and having a plurality of equidistant spaced apart pockets adjacent thereto, manually operative means to rotate the table, and means adapted to bat said ball toward said pockets, substantially poses specified. v

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a ball, of a rotatable table, a resilient striking element at the centrally disposed top of'said table, a stationary field surroundingjthe table and having a plurality of pockets therein to receive said ball, a resilient fence partly surrounding said field, manually joperative means to rotate the table and said'element to drive said ball toward and into. said vfield, whereby skill of the players of said game determines whether said ball isreceived by one of said pockets, or driven over said fence.

6. In a device of the class descrlbed, V the as and for the pur combination with a ball, of arotatable table,

a striking element at the top of said table,

clet except at points adjacent said pockets,

inanuallysoperative means to rotate the stable and said element to drive-said ball toward and into said field, whereby the skill of the players of the game determines whethersaid ball is received by one of said pocket-s aor driven over said fence. i

7. In a device of the class described, :a rotatable table, a field surroundingsaid table, and said fieldrhaving a plurality of pockets therein, a fence in said field, manually operative means to, rotate the table, and means centrally disposed of'said tableand adapted to "be rotatetF'in a direction opposite from the direction of rotation of saidltable.

8. Inadevice of the class described, the combination with a ball, of a rotatable table, a stationary field surrounding said table and said field having a plurality of pockets therein, a resilient fence around said field except at the location of said pockets, manually operative means to rotate said table, and rotatable means centrally disposed ofsaid table to impart movement to said ball to ward said field;

9. In a device of the class describech sa rotatable table, a striking element adjacent and manually operative means to rotate the i table and to impart movement to said element, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

10. In a device ofthe class described, r0- tatable means, a mechanical batter adjacent the upper surface ofsaid means, a field surrounding sa d means and having a plurality of pockets therein, the surface of said field toward said pockets, and manually operative adjacent said pockets slopingdownwardly means to rotate said first mentionedinieans purposes specified.

'11.. In a device'of the class describecha rotatable table, a mechanical batter adjacent the upper surface of said table, a stationary and said batter, substantially as and for the field surrounding said table and havi ng'a plurality of pockets therein, the 'sur-face of said field adj acent said pockets sloping downwardly toward. said pockets, and manually operative inea ns to rotate said table and said batter, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

12. In a ball game device of the class described, a rotatable table, a batter positioned above. said table,-a stationary field surrounding said table and having a plurality of pockets therein representing home plate, first base, seeond base and third base. the surface of said field sloping toward said pocketsand manually operative means to rotate the table and said batter, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

13. In a ball game device of the class described, a rotatable table, a batter positioned. above said table, a stationary field surroundingz said table and having a plurality of. pockets therein representing home plate, first base,second base and third base, the surface of said field sloping toward said pockets, and manually operative means to rotate the table and said batter in opposite directions, substantially as and for the'purpose specified.

14. In a game, the combination with a ball, of a rotatable table, means to automatically drop said ball upon said table. a rotatable batter mounted above said table, circlet having four pockets adjacent its outer edge to receive said ball, said pockets representing: home plate, first base. second base, and third base, the surface of said circlet sloping;

downwardly towardsaid pockets, a return bin for said ball. means to convey the ball from said pockets to said bin, manually op erative means to rotate the table and said."

batter, whereby said ball is adapted to be contacted by said batter and received by one of said pockets, substantially as de scribed.

15. In a device of the class described. the combination with a movable means, of a rotatable means, a field surrounding said last mentioned means. resistrationmeans in com bination with said field. a SbI'lklIlQ' element, manually operative means adapted to rotate said rotatable means and impart movement thereof, and said top having a perforation therein, a circlet surrounding said drum and having a plurality of pockets adjacent thereto representing home plate. first base, second base, and third base. the upper surface of said circlet adjacent said pockets sloping" downwardly toward said pockets. a sectional resilient fence around said circlet, a gua d.

surrounding said circ'let, batting; means proecting upwardly through said perforation.

'manually operative means to rotate said drum and said batting means whereb when 7 said ball is placed upon the top of said drum,

being rotated at a predetermined velocity. said ball is adapted to roll toward said perforation and be driven by said batting means upon said circlet and carried into one of said pockets, and when the rotatable speed :of said drum is increased saidball instead of entering one of said pockets is. adapted to be forced by said batting means over said sides of said container, a verticalstaff fixed to said support and liavi'ngra bearing therein, a circular table having; a top and bottom having centrally disposed holes therein, a spin-- dle extending through said holes and having its lower end rotatably mounted in said bearing, a batterfixed to the upper end of said spindle and protruding through the hole in the top of-said. table, a manually operative crank, gearing connections between saidcrank and said spindle and said. table, whereby rotation of said crank is adaptedto rotate said batter and said table in opposite directions, a circlet around said table and having' a plurality of pockets adjacent thereto, the surface of said eirclet adjacent said. pockets sloping downwardly thereto, a resilient fence around said circlet except .at said pockets, a guard surrounding said circlct and spaced apart therefrom, whereby a ball driven from said table over said fence is adapted to drop between said guard and said circlet. a bin in said contain er, a trough under said pockets, and sloping:

downwardly toward said bin, whereby balls driven between said circlet and said guard, and balls entering; said pockets are received by said trough and directed to said. bin, a ball ejector comprising a spring pivotedto said guard, means at the inner end. of said spring." adapted to eject said ball after which said spring is adapted to move said means upwardly of said table, legs fined to said container. and rollers fixed to the lower ends of said legs and received by said track. substantially as and for the pur-' said bearing", a batter fixed to the upper end" of said spindle and protruding throuoh thehole in the top of said table. a manually operative crank, QQELI'HLQ connections between said crank and said spindle and said. table.

, whereby rotation of said crank is adapted to rotate said batter and said table in opposite directions. a circlet around said table and having a plurality of pockets adjacent thereto, the surface of said circletadjacent said pockets sloping downwardly thereto, a resilient fence around said circlet except at said pockets, a guard surroundingsaid circlet and spaced apart therefrom, whereby pockets and sloping downwardly toward said bin, whereby balls driven between said clrclet and said guard, and balls enterlng said pockets are received by said trough and directed to said bin, aball ejector coinprislng a spring pivoted to said guard,

means at the inner end of said spring adapt- I ed to eject said ball after which said'spring is adapted to move said means upwardly of said table, legs fixed to said container, and rollers fixed to the lower ends of said legs and received by said track. substantially as and for the purposes specified.

GOLDWIN SMI H. 

